Ambassadors ease path for freshmen

Einstein program meant to aid transition to high school

Jamil Shah (center), a junior at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, answers questions from freshman about where to catch the bus, class schedules and high school in general as part of a new program that designates upperclassmen as ambassadors to assist incoming freshman with the transition from middle school.

Flooding the halls at Einstein High School in Kensington Thursday, a crowd of newly minted ninth-graders explored their new linoleum realm, seeking their classes with echoing sonar calls of, "This is confusing."

Watching over them was Jamil Shah, a junior on the football team, wearing a Titan-blue shirt denoting his status as an Ambassador to the incoming freshman class of 413 students. Shah was there to guide them to homeroom, help them read schedules and most of all, to ease their minds about high school.

The ambassador program, instituted for the first time this year, pairs groups of students with a specific upperclassman who will meet with them through the year, encouraging them to join activities, keep their grades up and just answer any questions they may have about Einstein. About 90 Einstein students recommended by teachers and coaches will serve as ambassadors all year.

"The administration is pushing the freshman class, making sure they don't fall behind," said ambassador program coordinator Kate Ligon. "The freshmen are really the at-risk kids, transitioning from middle school to high school."

Shah said even though it meant going back to school a few days early, he volunteered to be an ambassador to "help out the young ones that are new here."

"I didn't mind, I found it as an opportunity to meet new people," Shah said. "I know if I had this as a freshman it would have been helpful."

Looking back, Shah remembered his first day much like the new freshmen were experiencing theirs.

"It was confusing, it was really confusing," he said. "I was late for my classes."

Cheerleader Benita Linton, a junior, was not an ambassador, but performed at orientation and said the freshman need help transitioning because high school is "a different culture."

"You're supervised, but people aren't going to be on top of you to get your work done, you have to do it yourself," Linton said. "My first year I really didn't know that. I caught on a little too late."

That was one of the major points Shah emphasized during a brief meeting with three freshman boys. "As soon as ninth grade starts, remember to do your work. When I started I was playing sports and things and I said, oh I can do my homework later, but you can't. You need to make sure you get it done right away. It's what you talk about the next day in class."

Assistant Principal Linda Jasper said guidance and advice about keeping up grades, participating in extracurricular activities and just surviving high school can be better for a freshman when it is offered by a peer.

"It'll be a little more trust there because they're closer in age," Jasper said. "They can come in and they already know someone."

She said not knowing anybody can be one of the big reasons freshmen hesitate to get involved with activities and athletics, but participation is important because it improves their connection to the school and forces them to work on their grades to maintain eligibility.

"They don't know anybody and that's what the ambassador program is going to do a lot for. They wonder, do I belong, do I fit in? Now when they come (on the first day) they can have five people they can at least come and wave to."

Frigrio said having Shah and the other ambassadors available helped calm what was a totally new experience.

"It's pretty cool that you get to talk to someone," Frigrio said. "It's coming from someone that did what we're doing now."